|
JERROLD WORKING TO DEVELOP SUPFR VHS CABLE TP.ANSHISSIONS (continued)
<br />Mr. Aus ionsmu ..it that, in
<br />addition to subswibert um of
<br />mmerter sidecars, modifications
<br />tos cable "NeM shcadend wield
<br />be necessary in order to provide
<br />the Super VHS sigml to wneum.
<br />en. The hisdeod owls weren't
<br />broken down, but he said that it
<br />•.mould moat likely when operator
<br />whet it wets toadd another than.
<br />net to lake ey,tern .rd mot Are annm-
<br />terter add -on base wodd cost
<br />wens whmere between llWand11100
<br />"ch. Increased bandwidth 6
<br />netemary in order to provide the
<br />improved signal, Mr. Aukatikel-
<br />nis said, noting that instead of the
<br />usual 6 MHz of bandwidth per
<br />channel, Super VHS signal,
<br />might require 9 MHz, making it
<br />difficult for opeators with little
<br />channel capacity to adopt the
<br />"stem -
<br />Another way wprovide the im-
<br />proved signal, he mid, may be to
<br />lower the noise figure of the con-
<br />verter to maimain noise chano-
<br />teristim. The signals then would
<br />be writ in an FM tranemiasinn
<br />user the plant using broadband
<br />channels.
<br />ATr. Rriebugh mid, "Clearly,
<br />36-channel syowms will have
<br />trouble participating... but (for
<br />larger eyatemsl them will be
<br />ample bandwidth' because every
<br />channel na dn't transmit in Super
<br />VHS.
<br />Operator ,action to Jerrold's
<br />Super VHS plan was genen,31
<br />positive Jim Chkldix, senior v
<br />president of engineering
<br />technology for Avaericart lttevr
<br />sion d Communications Corp,.
<br />mid that while it's Wanly to tell
<br />how customers will embrace
<br />Sup" VHS teuhre,kcV. he would
<br />certainly be interested in partio-
<br />pming in tests. However, he mid
<br />he wanted to makesuar tit indws
<br />try wasn't embracing a "aewnd-
<br />clam delivery system" by imple-
<br />menting Super VHS.
<br />Mr. Chiddix mid channel
<br />capacity will definitely be s pmb-
<br />lem—a cancer voiced by all
<br />t ow interviewed by Multichen-
<br />nel Neu,, —but he aim mid that
<br />"if there were a clear market
<br />value:' operators will find the
<br />extra channel capacity to proidc
<br />the service"
<br />Mr. ChiddLa .11M the Super
<br />VHS plan a short-term solution
<br />for operators if consumers begin
<br />to widely accept Super VHS tepee
<br />and equipment. "We need a
<br />short-term etrasegy:' he said, but
<br />also noted that highdefmition
<br />television odd leapfrog over the
<br />Super VHS technology, leaving
<br />the cable industry behind wch-
<br />nologimlly.
<br />Ned HamnOton-Piercy, Rages
<br />C.blesysteres' vice president of
<br />enginessung and technical mrv-
<br />iwsand cluakmen d dw Nedousl
<br />Cable T Ievisirn Association's
<br />wramfnmm HDTV, mid thece-
<br />ble industry needs a short-term
<br />entry into enhanced picture de liw
<br />ery and that Super VHS trans.
<br />mission would allow an even play.
<br />ing field with the VCR industry.
<br />Awaroncept, it wouldbe a good
<br />fast step im.ard HDTV —giving
<br />uoms me san apprste for HD7Y,"
<br />he mid.
<br />Mr. Hunihon-Pierry mid op-
<br />erators most look at Super VHS
<br />it'd make your head spin." He
<br />said that Super VHS doe provide
<br />improved picturtqualey, but the
<br />question u whether our some ,
<br />are willing to pry $1,200 for a
<br />special monitor rather than M
<br />for a standard television set.
<br />Mn Kriebergh mid that the
<br />signals piogremmers sand to ca-
<br />ble headends is d such high qual-
<br />ity that they may not need to be
<br />modified in order to provide
<br />Super VHS tranmiesion to cable
<br />subscribers. He mid the signal
<br />dewriomtee when it is sent down
<br />the plant. Programming may be
<br />sent wheadendsin a Super VHS
<br />mode, but Jerrold is still experi-
<br />menting with that option, Mr.
<br />Krisbngh mid.
<br />Home Boa Office Inc ,poker
<br />person Also Levy, expreeenngwm-
<br />eem about the technology, mid:
<br />"HBO u working with the cable
<br />TV industry and the (Federal
<br />Communications Commimiool
<br />in the attempt to brirmg HDfV to
<br />transtnfedon" having a elathe- American h nimholds, and thus
<br />ly sheet lifµ saying that the dr ws generally we Super VHS m
<br />under and beadend adjustments Ons • he evolutionary steps
<br />most pry for themselves within tows" yodbut Super HS
<br />abou, them years. Improved�„ is Perceived
<br />NTSC and HDrV` w81 wane tc _
<br />life in them to five yeah, he mid.
<br />"That's okay; as long m you knmx
<br />that up front, you can plan so-
<br />. -dinghy," Mr. Hunfiton-Piercy
<br />donator rot m sold on the
<br />(.iuper VHS transmission
<br />Andy Devereaux, executive
<br />vine president of engineering for
<br />American Cablesystems. "It's
<br />not going to be what we need," he
<br />mid. Mr. Dancers. mid what
<br />the industry really need. now in
<br />a high -definition televisionsmn-
<br />dud, not an interim step toward
<br />achanced viden.
<br />If the technology is inexpen-
<br />sive. he said, operators may be
<br />willing tom pport "a basted etan-
<br />dud" ontil a true HDTV ston-
<br />dud'u decided. But Mr. D.
<br />saus said he doubted het Super
<br />VHS wodd be that interim step
<br />that gets support.
<br />On the other hand, he mid, if
<br />the industry adopt. an HDTV
<br />standard diet is "pseudo -cable,
<br />exclusive I'd jump an that an fast
<br />IRr1Ik {1UQ Sdda
<br />NEW PORK —A meaty formed
<br />waking groin of the National
<br />Cable TWeiision Association is
<br />working on developing not only
<br />Sups VHS but another new
<br />Inusnimion method called Sup.
<br />er NTSC.
<br />That's the am from Pad
<br />Pees, director of marketing for
<br />Recown Corp and chairman of
<br />the "Super Cable" -OA ing Panp
<br />of the NCTV. High Definition
<br />Television wmmince. hie. Peace
<br />mid the groupie members include
<br />Yves Femudja, whom Mr. Perez
<br />described As the "fstherof Super
<br />VHS:'
<br />Super VHS technology would
<br />require the addition of hinder?
<br />equipment coating less r!un
<br />S5,000 per channel, Mr. -r'a.
<br />mid. While Super VHS
<br />would hew noelfect on Ne arep.
<br />lion quality of ramSuper VHS
<br />mbieemm, Mr. Pam no,d,
<br />Super NTSC would clean up sax
<br />pittuue on cxmnrenl tUwaMs. With-
<br />out increasing the mail...bva he
<br />explained, Super NTSC wodd
<br />.rake de.—pdoe "much c lean -
<br />a, artifact -fore, with lees Boise"
<br />Mr. Pelee midthebar interns
<br />system to lead up to time HDTV
<br />wouldemnbf me Scapa N7SC awl
<br />Super VHS. He and •tea of
<br />Super NTSC should be up and
<br />mnnNgon s majorrabk system
<br />by ierw and a Sups VNSteaby
<br />the and of the year.
<br />Manul.r uermembersofthe
<br />Super Cable workinggroup, Mr.
<br />Peres mid, epnYrt SL%ntic-
<br />Atlanm, Oak, 7.nith, Pioneer,
<br />the Jerrold and Thrum
<br />divisions d General Instrument
<br />Gobleopersmr members epre-
<br />sml G01 Cable Tkle-Cammoni-
<br />natloru Ina, American'hlevuion
<br />A Cutnmunicatinus Corp, Unit-
<br />ed Cable Tllevision Corp, Storer
<br />CAW µ Sammons and Tunes Mh-
<br />o.
<br />'Hero pog: on retwok,11,en,
<br />Boat Office Ins and The Dis-
<br />tey Channel —ere Also epemnt-
<br />ad. 0
<br />
|